Hi Sanusi:
Thanks for welcoming me back to the Gambia-L. Yours is a heartfelt response.
On Kebba Jobe, I was trying to make a point. You see, in the grand scheme of things Jobe is irrelevant. My point is why waste resources lambasting a man whose views are shared by a minority when more pressing issues need to be discussed immediately? The elections are 6 months away, Sanusi, but no strategy has been mapped out to this point on this forum anyway.
Also, like it or not there are 1000s and perhaps 100,000s of people like Jobe back home. Will we have to tolerate them and their intellectuall 'dishonesty', as some would say, I am afraid so. After all, the democratic ideals we preach do mandate that people, despite political allegiance, be given an opportunity to be heard and not be insulted etc. Again, Jobe is irrelevant and his purported insolence should not sway the majority from what is most important: The fast approaching elections.
Let Jobe wallow in his own pile of statistical ignorance. Most of us do know better.
On the human rights situation in Africa, this is an analogy of sorts which is meant to highlight the dilemma we face right now. Point is many African countries with worse rights records than that of the Gambia are viewed as 'legitimate' by the international community. The opposition slacks now, the Jobe diversion continues, and we face the genuneliy scary possibility of another 5 years of an APRC ruling party which will gain more legitimacy in the eyes of the international community. Do you know that the EC just gave our country about 48 Million Dollars? Just an example of the legitimacy of the country in the eyes of our donors. Scary isn't it?
In my opinion, aside from PDOIS, I honestly believe that the opposition back home is almost beginning to become a big joke in my eyes. I understand their financial limitations and my heart really bleeds for them in this respect. Nevertheless, unlike PDOIS, they have failed to map out a political strategy which would be appealing or, at the least, encouraging to Gambians both abroad and home. Has the UDP ever run a comprehensive voter registration campaign? What did they do to counter the allegations of vote buying? How do they get their funds and how much? What are the comprehensive strategic plans for these funds? We need to know these answers. I understand that Mr. Darboe will be here soon in the name of funds, but this should have started a few years ago. Not six months before a major election.
On vote buying, I refuse to subscrobe hook, line and sinker to this theory. The UDP lost because of poor voter turnout. Again, the numbers do not lie: 1/4 of the registered amount of voters did not cast their ballots. Also, I believe an equal or perhaps greater amount did even register to vote. But it is the UDP's job to make sure voters are registered and encouraged by all means possible to cast their ballots on election day. The unsubstantiated allegations of vote buying can at most considered a minor sideshow. The reason for the losses was due to low voter turnout.
The reason for cross-carpeting, IMHO, is because something is 'obviously being lost in the party's message to its members plus the unsavory characters which the UDP tends to file into its ranks. I apologize to Pesseh Njie and family for using him as an example. Almamo Touray would probably have been a better example to use. Anyway, a few more of these silly antics will bring the party to her knees. I understand the money issue you raised, but a combination of a strong and clear ideological message combined with a diverse array of 'worthy' characters should put an end to this worrisome trend. As much as we hate to say, this problem is an indication of the party's level of disunity.
inally, on women's rights, I also read Juwara's statements on radio. They were amateurish and very politically risky. How does one take on virtually the entire feminist movement back home and expect to emerge unscathed? Just saying that the UDP is an equal opportunity party would have sufficed. But instead he foolishly tried to take jabs at people who have tried to do so much for women back home. Hamjatta's piece, on a personal level is fine with me. But views like the one's contained in his dissent to feminism will only hurt the opposition and I hope you never try to associate those less-than-sound ideological ideas to the opposition.
Sanusi and all, the situation is really dire. Six months is very close and not a damn thing has changed positively for the opposition. I am very worried!
Have a nice day!
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